Apple iOS 4
AppleiOS 4 (formerly"iPhone OS 4") is a smartphone operating system from Apple, Inc. for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch. iOS 4 was officially introduced in spring 2010. The iOS operating system activates the hardware components of the iPhone, its software applications and the apps of independent developers that are loaded onto the smartphone. iOS 4 also supports the two cameras of the iPhone 4 for video telephony with FaceTime between two iPhones over a WLAN or cellular network.
New in iOS 4 is multitasking with multiple applications at the same time, including Voice over IP( VoIP), audio streaming, Global Positioning System( GPS) localization, messages from a push server, local push messages, and completing uploads in the background. These functions are always available, even if the iPhone user has other applications open. Independent developers of apps for the iPhone will have to prepare them for multitasking or upgrade older software.
A total of up to 2,160 apps can be collected and managed in folders via drag-and-drop, but only a maximum of twelve apps per folder. Another new feature is a unified inbox that displays all unread messages from multiple e-mail accounts in a common list. If an e-mail contains an appointment, it can be transferred to the iPhone's calendar.
Internet services and other services
The iPhone's built-in web browser allows iOS to choose the default search engine, currently Google, Yahoo or Bing. A spell checker can be activated for notes, e-mail and other entries. The facial recognition known from Apple's iPhoto is now also available with iOS 4, and stored photos can also be sorted according to where they were taken.
The iPhone 4 also supports Bluetooth for input via a wireless keyboard. Business features have been expanded to include support for Secure Socket Layer( SSL) Virtual Private Networks( VPN), Exchange Server 2010, and access to multiple Exchange accounts. iOS 4 also includes the iBooks e-book reader to purchase, collect, and access digitized books on the iPhone. All titles purchased from the iBook store can be transferred wirelessly between iPad, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch. iBooks had previously been available for iPad and is also suitable for reading PDF files.
The iAds advertising program was also introduced with iOS. It is implemented in the iOS operating system and displays ads in the apps of independent developers, who now receive another source of revenue with their apps.